Richard Lawson (Green politician)
Encyclopedia
Richard Lawson is an environmentalist and politician
in England
.
Born in 1946, Lawson became a doctor in 1969 and joined the Ecology Party, forerunner of the Green Party
, in about 1977. In 1979, he joined a general practice in Congresbury
, Somerset
. He was elected to Woodspring District Council in 1986. At the 1987 general election
he stood in Weston-super-Mare
, taking 3.6% of the votes cast, and at the 1989 European Parliament election, he took 23% of the vote and second place in Somerset and Dorset West
.
In 1992, Lawson became Principal Speaker
of the Green Party of England and Wales
, alongside Jean Lambert
. He stood again in Weston-super-Mare at the general election
, but his share of the vote fell to 2.0%. Lawson later served as Health Speaker of the party.
In 1996 he authored Bills of Health, a study of the impact of political and economic conditions on the National Health Service
(NHS).
He stood in Woodspring
at the 1997
and 2001 general election
s, and was second on the party's South West England
list at the 1999 European election, but never came close to election. At the 2009 European election
, he took the fourth place on the party's South West England list.
In his spare time, Lawson was previously a hang glider pilot, and invented a double film aerofoil sail. He also composes poetry
and has led a campaign for the United Nations
to compile a Global Index of Human Rights.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Born in 1946, Lawson became a doctor in 1969 and joined the Ecology Party, forerunner of the Green Party
Green Party (UK)
The Green Party was a Green political party in the United Kingdom. It has been succeeded by three political parties:* the Green Party of England and Wales* the Green Party in Northern Ireland* the Scottish Green Party- PEOPLE, 1973–1975 :...
, in about 1977. In 1979, he joined a general practice in Congresbury
Congresbury
Congresbury is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated in the Unitary authority of North Somerset, and in 2001 had a population of 3,400. It lies on the A370, roughly equidistant between Junction 21 of the M5 and Bristol Airport, approximately south of Bristol city centre,...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. He was elected to Woodspring District Council in 1986. At the 1987 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
he stood in Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency)
Weston-super-Mare is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, taking 3.6% of the votes cast, and at the 1989 European Parliament election, he took 23% of the vote and second place in Somerset and Dorset West
Somerset and Dorset West (European Parliament constituency)
Somerset and Dorset West was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Somerset in England, plus parts of Avon and western Dorset.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England,...
.
In 1992, Lawson became Principal Speaker
Principal Speaker
Principal Speakers were the public spokespersons of the Green Party of England and Wales but have since been replaced in the party by a national Leader and Deputy Leader...
of the Green Party of England and Wales
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
, alongside Jean Lambert
Jean Lambert
Jean Denise Lambert is an English politician, and Member of the European Parliament for the London Region. A member of the Green Party of England and Wales, she has been an MEP since 1999...
. He stood again in Weston-super-Mare at the general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, but his share of the vote fell to 2.0%. Lawson later served as Health Speaker of the party.
In 1996 he authored Bills of Health, a study of the impact of political and economic conditions on the National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
(NHS).
He stood in Woodspring
Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency)
Woodspring was, from 1983 until 2010, a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
at the 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
and 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
s, and was second on the party's South West England
South West England (European Parliament constituency)
South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation, reduced from 7 in 2004.-Boundaries:...
list at the 1999 European election, but never came close to election. At the 2009 European election
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
, he took the fourth place on the party's South West England list.
In his spare time, Lawson was previously a hang glider pilot, and invented a double film aerofoil sail. He also composes poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and has led a campaign for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to compile a Global Index of Human Rights.